Means for automatically adjusting adjustable abrasive or cutting tools



TTING TOOLS April 27, 1943. E. D. B ALL MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING ADJUSTABLE ABRASIVE OR CU Filed March 13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qzzzvezatoz' .JZEa/ ZL fifty Filed March 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 Patented Apr. 27, 1943 1 UNITED MEANS vroa AUTOMATICALLYIADJUSTING ADJUSTABLE ABRASIVE. on CUTTING TOOLS Edgar lDale Ball, iDerby, England, .assignor of onehalf to George H. Alexander Machinery Limited, Birmingham, England Application March 13, 194 2,"Serial'No.43 L610 In Great Britain March -28, 194-1 (Cl. S l-484.3)

8 Claims.

This invention is intended primarily .for use with diametrically adjustable cylindrical hones adapted for finishing cylindrical surfaces on metal or other work pieces, but it is applicable to other tools such as laps, or cutters which are adjustable in diameter. The object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting the required adjustments automatically.

The invention comprises the combination of a hollow spindle adapted at one end for connection to the tool, an inner spindle arranged within the hollow spindle and adapted at one end for connection to the tool adjusting device, a slidable sleeve on the .hollow spindle, and means interconnecting the sleeve and the inner spindle so that .linear movement of the sleeve relatively to the outer spindle effects angular movement of the inner spindle, the interconnecting means having in combination an angularly movable member, a helical connection between the said member and the sleeve, toothed gearing connected to the inner spindle, and a unidirectional clutch through which motion can be transmitted from the said member to the said gearing.

The invention also comprises a stop for use with the means above specified, which stop is adapted to cause relative linear movement between the hollow spindle and sleeve, and has combined with it means for varying the amount of such movement and/or automatically arresting the operation performed by the tool at a predetermined time.

In the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on two planes at right angles of a cylindrical hone having attached to it adjusting means constructed in .accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating to a smaller scale than Figures 1 and.2 means for antomatically varying the adjusting movements imparted progressively to the hone during the operations performed by the hone on a work piece.

The hone shown in Figure l is of well known form and comprises a hollow cylindrical or like body part a carrying on its exterior a plurality of longitudinally arranged and radially adjustable abrasive elements 12 which are adapted to efiect finishing operations on a bore in a work piece 0? during relative reciprocatory motions of the hone and work piece. The abrasive elements b are interconnected by springs e, and are radially adjustable under the control of a screw 1 arranged coaxially within the body part a, the screw being adapted to actuate wedge or like members g which act on the abrasive elements through slidable thrust pieces h in the usual manner.

In carrying the invention into effect as shown, I employ a hollow spindle '2' adapted at one end for connection by a coupling a to the adjacent end of the hone body part a so that rotary and reciprocatory movements of the spindle are accompanied by corresponding movements of the hone, the other end of the spindle being adapted for attachment to a driving spindle or other operating or holding means (not shown). Preferably and as shown the spindle 1' consists of three main parts 1 i and The part i forms a hollow enlargement of the spindle i and is herein termed the head. The part i has the form of a stem which at one end is swivelled in the adjacent end of the head i and is provided with a radial projection or projections as k for engaging a slot or slots as m in, and thereby effecting a driving connection with, the head, the other end of the stem being adapted for connection by the coupling 1 to the body part a of -the bone. The part i also has the formv of a stem which .at one end is secured in the end of the head 1' remote from the other stem i and which is adapted for attachment to the driving or holding means above-mentioned. Within the first mentioned stem 1' is arranged a spindle n which may consist as shown of two coaxially arranged and interconnected parts n1, n and which at the end adjacent to the head 2' has a swivelled driving connection with one end of a short spindle '0 extending through! the head. On the other end of the short spindle o is secured a sun pinion ,p which is situated in the adjacent end of the head i and is journalledin the corresponding .end of the stem P.

In the interior portion of the head i immediately adjacent to the sun pinion p is mounted aplanet pinion or :pinions as q which engages or engage an internally toothed annulus 1' rotatably mounted on the exterior of the head, the arrangement being such that rotation of the annulus causes rotation to be imparted to the sun pinion and thus to the inner spindles o, n.

The annulus r is formed on or secured to a ring 3 which is rotatable on the adjacent end of the head i and which has adriving connection with a second ring 11, the latter being both rotatable and slidable on the head. The driving connection between the rings .3, t, is effected by a ratchet and paw] mechanism consisting of ratchet teeth u on theend face of ring t and pawls 12 .consisting of spring loaded pins slidably supported by the ring s in parallel relationship with the axis of the spindle The ring t has a unidirectional clutch connection w with the head i on which it is mounted. Also the ring t has a second unidirectional (but opposite) clutch conmotion x with a third ring y which surrounds and is supported by the ring if and the adjacent part of a sleeve 2 on the end of the head i remote from the first ring 3. In addition to being provided with the unidirectional clutch connection 11:, the second and third rings, t, y, are interconnected by any convenient means for permitting relative rotational movements but preventing relative sliding movements of these rings. Thus in the example shown the second ring t is formed with a circumferential slot 2, and this slot is engaged by reduced inner ends of grub screws as 3 on the third ring 1 The sleeve 2 is slidably but non-rotatably connected to the head i by the engagement of a key or keys as 4 on the head with a longitudinal groove or grooves as 5 in the inner periphery of the sleeve. Also the sleeve 2 and the third sleeve y are interconnected through any convenient helical or like connection which may comprise a short helical recess or.recesses as 6 formed in the sleeve, and a rectangular other head or heads on a peg or pegs as I carried by the third ring, the head or heads being in engagement with the recess or recesses, and the arrangement being such that sliding movement of the sleeve on the head 2' causes a small angular movement to be imparted to the third ring. Spring loaded plungers as 8 mounted in the end of the third ring y remote from the first ring s and situated parallel with the axis of the spindle i serve by abutting against an external shoulder or collar 9 on the sleeve 2 to hold the latter in its normal position in which an internal shoulder Ill on it lies in contact with an external shoulder II on the spindle head i and also to hold'the ring y in contact with ring s. When the sleeve 2 is in its normal position its outer end projects beyond the adjacent end of the head i as shown. The unidirectional clutches w, as, may be ,of any convenient construction, but preferably are of the well known kind comprising spring loaded prevent motion of this ring. If it should be required to operate the ring s rapidly by hand, the ring y is moved by one hand along the sleeve 2 and, by carrying the ring it with it, leaves the ring s free to be rotated by the other hand.

I will now describe how motion is imparted to the sleeve 2 automatically. Usually the spindle z balls or rollers adapted to effect a wedge-like engagement with the parts to be interconnected. Thus in the example shown the unidirectional clutch :1: comprises spring loaded rollers l2 arranged in inclined recesses l3 in the ring t and adapted to co-operate with the inner peripheral surface of the ring 11, whilst the other unidirectional clutch w comprises spring loaded rollers It arranged in inclined recesses [5 in the head i and adapted to co-operate with the inner peripheral surface of the ring 13. As already stated these clutches w, :r, operate in opposite directions, so that when one of them is in action the other is idle.

The mode of operation of the mechanism above described is as follows: When the sleeve 2 is pushed along the head i of the spindle (as will be described later) it imparts a small angular movement to ring y as a result of the helical or like connection 6, I. The ring y transmits its motion through the unidirectional clutch :1: to the ring if, and the latter transmits its motion through the ratchet and pawl mechanism u, 'v to the ring s which effects the required angular movement of the inner spindles o, n through the epicyclic mechanism 12, q. The efiect of the angular movement of the inner spindle n is a corresponding movement of the hone adjustin screw When the sleeve .2 is'allowed to return under the action of the spring loaded plungers 8 acting on it, it imparts the opposite angular motion to ring 1/, but this is an idle motion as the clutch :1: is then inactive. But should the clutch .7 stick the other unidirectional clutch w will lock the ring if to the spindle head 2 and so which carries the hone is reciprocated relatively to the work. But in some cases the work is reciprocated relatively to the spindle. In the former case there is mounted on the bed of the machine and in the path of the sleeve 2 a stop which may have the form of a pair of rollers I6 adapted to be engaged by diametrically opposite parts of the outer end of the sleeve, and which when so engaged arrest the sleeve. Consequently during the continued movement of the spindle 2' through a short distance, relative sliding movement occurs between the spindle and the sleeve 2, and this causes the ring y to impart angular motion as above described to the inner spindles o, n, for actuating the tool adjusting screw I. When the tool is required to operate on the surface of a bore in the work piece as in the example shown, this adjusting movement causes the operative or abrasive elements I) of the tool to be expanded slightly. But when the tool is of a hollow form adapted to act on an external cylindrical surface, the adjusting movement causes contraction of the operative elements of the tool.

In the case in which the work is reciprocated relatively to the tool the stop above-mentioned is mounted in any convenient relationship to the work piece so that it can actuate the sleeve as above described.

In either of the cases above-mentioned the position of the stop formed by the rollers I6 is adjustable, and if desired relative movement produced between the ring 1 and the sleeve 2 under the action of the stop may be limited by contact of the shoulder or collar 9 on the sleeve with the adjacent end of the ring y, this shoulder or collar in its preferred form being adjustably mounted on the sleeve as shown.

Itris sometimes required that in the initial stages of the action of the tool on the work the adjustment effected in each reciprocatory motion shall be relatively coarse, the amount of adjustment movement being gradually reduced as the work approaches completion. To meet this condition I mount the stop rollers IE on one end of a lever I! which at a position intermediate its ends is connected by a pivot l8 to a fixed supporting bracket l9, the other end of the lever being arranged to bear against a spring loaded plunger 20 on the bracket. The plunger 20 is adapted to hold the lever I! in its normal position in which it abuts against an adjustable stop in the form of nuts 22 on an arm 23, the latter being pivoted to the bracket l9 and arranged to extend through a hole in the lever. The bracket 19 also carries a spindle 24 on which is secured a cam 25, and which is rotatably adjustable by another spindle 26 through the agency of worm gearing comprising a worm 21 and a worm wheel 28 mounted respectively on the two spindles. The spindle 25 is arranged at right angles to the spindle 24 and is journalled in a carrier 29, the latter being pivoted at one end to the bracket l9, and being movable about its pivot axis between service and out-of-service positions for engaging and disengaging the worm 21 and worm Wheel 28. Any convenient detent, such as a spring loaded ball 30 on the carrier 29 is provided for retaining the carrier in its service or out-ofservice position, the ball being adapted to engage either of a pair of recesses 3| in the bracket IS. The cam 25 is adapted to form an adjustable abutment against which the lever IT can bear upon being moved against the action of the spring loaded plunger 20, and the abutment serves to determine the extent of such movement. The spring loading of the plunger 20 is smaller than that of the plungers 8 on the ring y above mentioned, so that the lever I! can be moved by the sleeve 2 without affecting the plungers 8 until the lever abuts against the cam 25, whereupon the sleeve is actuated as above described, Each of the successive movements imparted to the lever IT by its encounter with the sleeve 2 is used to impart to the cam 25 an adjusting movement in the direction (a clockwise direction in the example shown) for increasing the distance through which the lever is movable before abutting against the cam, and thereby reducing the extent of the sliding movement imparted to the sleeve. For enabling the adjusting movements to be imparted to the cam 25, a ratchet wheel 32 is secured on the spindle 26, and a pawl 33 is mounted on the lever 11, the ratchet wheel being adapted to be actuated by the pawl during each successive operation of the lever until the cam reaches a position in which no adjusting movement is imparted to the sleeve 2.

Secured on the spindle 24 is another cam 34 having a lobe 35 which by contact with a projection 36 on the carrier 29 moves the latter into its out-of-service position in which the worm 21 is disengaged from the worm wheel 28, the arrangement being such that the said lobe comes into action after the required adjusting movements of the first mentioned cam 25 have been efiected.

Return of the cams 25, 34 to their initial positions is effected by a hand lever 31 on the spindle 24.

If it is desired to dispense with the automatic adjustment of the cam 25 the pawl 33 may be put out of action, in which case the cam can a be adjusted by a handle 38 on the spindle 26.

In addition to utilising the movement of the ratchet wheel for adjusting a cam as above described this movement may' be employed for operating an electric switch which controls a circuit containing electrical means for stopping the tool after a predetermined time. Alternatively such a switch (which is indicated by 39 in Figure 3) may be mounted on the bracket l9 so that it can be actuated by the carrier 29.

Whilst the invention is primarily intended for automatically adjusting cylindrical hones it may be applied to laps or other abrasive tools of a like kind to hones, or to tools provided with adjustable cutting edges such as broaches, boring or turning tools or the like. Also the invention is not limited to the example above described as subordinate constructional or mechanical details may be varied to suit different requirements,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for automatically adjusting an adjustable abrasive or cutting tool, comprising the combination of a hollow spindle adapted at one end for connection to the tool, an inner spindle arranged within th hollow spindle and adapted at one end for connection to a device for adjusting the tool, a slidable sleeve on the hollow spindle, and connecting means whereby linear movement of the sleeve relatively to the outer spindle effects angular movement of the inner spindle, the said connecting means comprising in combination a rotatable ring on the outer spindle, epicyclic mechanism interconnecting the ring and the inner spindle, a second rotatable ring on the outer spindle, a pawl and ratchet mechanism interconnecting the two rings, a third rotatable ring surrounding the second ring and an adjacent part of the sleeve, a unidirectional clutch connection between the second and third rings, a helical connection between the sleeve and the third ring, and resilient means opposing axial movement of the sleeve in one direction.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 and having a second unidirectional clutch connection between the second ring and the outer spindle, the two clutch connections being arranged to operate in opposite directions.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the second and third rings are rotatable but incapable of axial movement relatively to each other, the second ring being slidable as well as rotatabl on the outer spindle, and being held in its normal position by the action on the third ring of the resilient means associated with the sleeve.

4. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the resilient means associated with the sleeve comprise spring loaded plungers.

5. For use with means as claimed in claim 8, a stop which is adapted to cause relative linear movement between the hollow spindle and sleeve, and has combined with it means for varying the amount of such movement.

6. For use with means as claimed in claim 8, a stop which is adapted to cause relative linear movement between the hollow spindle and sleeve, and has combined with it means for automatically arresting the operation performed by the tool at a predetermined time.

7. For use with means as claimed in claim 8, a

stop which is adapted to cause relative linear arranged within the hollow spindle and adapted at one end for connection to a device for adjusting the tool, a slidable sleeve on the hollow spindle, and means interconnecting the sleeve and the inner spindle so that linear movement of the sleeve relatively to the outer spindle efiects angular movement of the inner spindle, the interconnecting means having in combination an angularly movable member, a helical connection between the said member and the sleeve, toothed gearing connected to the inner spindle, and a unidirectional clutch through which motion can be transmitted from the said member to the said gearing.

EDGAR DALE BALL. 

